Jade Fern Grove sturdied up boulders and loosened the river

perhaps they stood too far apart from each other for such an issue to arise, but caligula kept his gaze to the side. there were many things that had been imparted to him through the universal language that was tooth and claw, and every one of them lingered, deep enough that it did not matter to what corner of the world he fled. he would not run even the risk of meeting another’s eyes.

to hear he had not stumbled into claimed land settled the man somewhat, but the relief did not last long. “legion?” caligula echoed. the word was familiar on his tongue; as with everything of the north, it was not familiar in a good way. it was familiar in a way that called up a dozen old battles and at least as many dead, a word for the great body of the people who had fought –

“is that…you, your pack, you are military, then?” his pale-ice gaze upon her took on a warier light, so thoroughly distracted as to have missed her name entirely, as well as the request for his own.